Collin Drent awarded Beta PhD Award 2023
Collin Drent wins the award for his exceptional work in “Structured Learning and Decision Making for Maintenance”. His research stood out for its scientific prowess and innovation.
On December 13, 2023, Collin Drent was awarded winner of the Beta PhD Prize for his outstanding doctoral thesis. The Beta PhD Prize, presented during the Beta Research School on Operations Management and Logistics symposium, recognizes the most exceptional PhD thesis within the Beta community for the years 2021 and 2022.
Thesis Highlights
Collin’s winning thesis, supervised by Onno Boxma, Geert-Jan van Houtum, and Stella Kapodistria, explores the intricate domain of deterioration and control processes. He models these processes as Markov decision processes and employs Bayesian statistics to enhance the estimation of unknown process parameters. What sets his research apart is the fully integrated approach he takes, tackling parameter estimation, optimization, and aspects such as product quality in a unified manner.
Jury Impressed by Technical Advancements
The jury, led by Henk Zijm from the University of Twente, expressed their admiration for the technical sophistication displayed in Collin Drent's work. The jury report noted, "Collin's analysis reaches an outstanding mathematical level. His innovative approach to modeling deterioration and control processes sets him apart. His sequential integration of parameter estimation and optimization, coupled with considerations for product quality, showcases technical advancement. The fact that he received his PhD cum laude, along with the publication of his results in high-level scientific journals, reflects the ongoing impact of his research."
Recognition and Rewards
Collin Drent's dedication and excellence were acknowledged with a Beta PhD Award plaque, a certificate, and a cash prize of €500.